Marine Geosystems

What does surface ocean color tell us about marine processes? How can corals record the evolution of oceans and climate? Do abrupt changes in climate change the circulation of the oceans? What is the bi-polar seesaw? What is an El-Nino event, and how long has it been happening? Are humans causing ocean acidification? Is the topography of the ocean floor just flat, or do surficial processes create various seascapes? These are some of the questions addressed in this topic room.

Marine geosystems are as diverse and dynamic as terrestrial ones, but far more expansive. Changes in ocean systems can have global repercussions because the oceans are connected to one another, and water masses from different seas mix. But the rates of mixing and change of marine processes are not uniform. Sometimes the rate of change is more significant than the magnitude of change.

To develop a rich understanding of Earth's marine geosystems, begin with this introductory overview, and then explore the many articles below. Learn about deep sea avalanches and the seascapes they create. Read about whether the ever-increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide are causing the oceans to become more acidic, and how much this is affecting marine life. Investigate the complicated processes triggering El Niño and La Niña events, and how these events occurred in Earth's past. Discover the bipolar seesaw. Learn about Meridional Overturning Circulation in the Atlantic and its relationship with abrupt climate change events. Delve into the productivity of the open ocean, and explore how vast seas can be fertilized with iron. Discover how coral shells become climate archives.